Just as people are getting used to fresh, locally grown produce, the 'Ewa farms that grow about half of those products are threatened with development.

Sure, developer D.R. Horton owns the property. And sure, the farmers signed short-term leases knowing they would one day have to shut down.

But this isn't just a matter between the farmers and the developer. The people need a voice, too. What happens to these farms will affect us all, and may make the difference for our future survival.

Ho'opili will be built on "prime" agricultural land, classified as A and B soils by a University of Hawai'i land study. They are precious. There is not a single acre of A land on the Big Island. Moloka'i has a small amount of A land, but no B soils. There are no A or B soils at all on Lana'i, Kaho'olawe, or Ni'ihau. Much of O'ahu's A and B lands have already been covered over by Mililani, Waipi'o, Waikele, Village Park, Royal Kunia, 'Ewa, and Kapolei. We must save what is left.

Goro Uehara, professor of soil science at the University of Hawai'i who has studied soils in different countries, says this is the best farmland in the world. It's not just the rich A and B soils, O'ahu is also perfectly situated in the island chain. Big Island soil is still very young, while the soils of Kaua'i are so old they have lost much of their energy.

O'ahu lands are mature, robust, and ready to produce. Unlike farms in temperate zones with short growing seasons that produce one crop, our farms produce year-round.

But what makes the 'Ewa farms so special? They are in a low lying area, with plenty of sun, gentle winds and an abundance of clean, cheap water.

While one might assume that higher lands that get more rain would be better for farming, what crops really need in order to grow is sunlight.

Higher farms with frequent cloud cover have major problems with root rot and insects that love wet conditions. At higher elevations, the soil's pH levels require expensive lime remediation for alkalinity or acidity.

'Ewa farms have none of these problems. Warm, sunny days allow them to produce four crops a year, compared to three on the north shore and in the central highlands, and two in Waimanalo. The 'Ewa lands are close to markets.

These are major advantages. They allow 'Ewa farmers to produce fresh, high quality fruits and vegetables that can compete with imported products.

As Ho'opili is built, the 'Ewa farms will completely disappear. There's simply no place to move their 1,555 acres of crops. All of Kunia is sold except 400 acres, which have all of the highland problems and no guaranteed water.

The North Shore highlands are relatively empty, but that land is irrigated by water from Lake Wilson. Filled with silt saturated with sewage from Wahiawa and Schofield Barracks for decades, state regulations prohibit using Lake Wilson's water on edible crops that touch the ground. That includes almost all crops grown on 'Ewa farms.

All of the other arable land on O'ahu is already being farmed. There are open lands on other islands, but transportation adds so much to the cost that farmers can't compete.

With nowhere to go, the 'Ewa farms will simply close. Once the land is covered, it can never be reclaimed.

We only grow 15 percent of our fresh produce — that's irresponsible enough in itself.

Can we really afford to lose our highest producing farmland? Is it fair to future generations?

A final note: The high clay content in prime soil expands and contracts, causing foundations to crack, so it needs to be excavated, and has often been taken to the dump.

So let's get this straight: They are going to close down our highest producing farms, excavate the best soil in the world and take it to the dump, fill the holes with coral, and build houses, many of which will be bought by people who don't live here, so that developer D.R. Horton, a Delaware company, can take the profit elsewhere.

Well, we can't eat houses.